September 21, 2017

The Wholehearted

Wholehearted will start conversations, honest conversations. Told through what I can only call interpretive dance it's the story of all people, yet there is no storyline.

I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what the cast where doing, what the boxes represented, what they were trying to catch (their heart? love? memories?). It's almost a stream of consciousness across several people.

It is beautifully choreographed, each member participating in another's story so seamlessly. Sheer curtains create windows to interesting tableaux, all perfectly staged.

What is it about? It's about the human experience, how we open ourselves to others and it's lovely to watch.

Tickets: $30
Performances: (Wellington) 20-23 September, 7pm
Harcourts Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival (27 September)
Christchurch - Papa Hou (3 – 7 October)
Dunedin - Fortune Theatre (10 to 13 October)

https://www.massivecompany.co.nz/thewholehearted

A Doris Day Special

Ali Harper is a delight. Though this show doesn't have the breadth of Legendry Divas there's still plenty to enjoy.

Ali is Doris Day as she tells us about her life in a television special. There's video and audio accompaniment with a gorgeous rack of clothes. Doris had a tragic life but somehow managed to keep a smile on her face. Her positive outlook took her through several husbands and the loss of her best friend, her son. She was an early animal activist, still working in that area into her 90's.

The script is great, integrating costume changes with pre-recorded pieces and, of course, live singing. In case you didn't know, Ali is very talented.

The audience was a little older but the show is enjoyable for all ages.

Tickets: $46
Performances: 16 September - 14 October (times vary)

September 15, 2017

Anahera

Anahera means angel and she looks like one standing in white. Is this what I'm meant to see or am I reading too much into this?

What lies beneath the surface of a seemingly perfect family is appalling. It left me gaping in horror more than once. But somehow you feel for these awful characters, possibly because you feel for them before their awfulness is revealed - to the audience or to themselves.

The programme has only two lines about the show itself; following the annoying trend of having notes from the writer and director instead of pertinent information. The poster doesn't show Anahera but instead the actress who plays Liz - weirdly with ferns behind her which made me think it had something to do with the jungle.

You'll recognise the three main actors from TV and past Circa productions. Neenah Dekkers-Reihana as the title character is so different from what I've seen her portray before; she is innocent and righteous. Her wide eyes at the very opening making you realise how young and nervous the character is.

Anahera was harrowing, so much so that it stuck with me afterwards. I'd remember and almost shudder at the thought. I felt like the story lacked a resolution or maybe it's meant to show that they don't exist in real life. I'm left feeling unsettled.


Performances: 9 September – 7 October (times vary)
Tickets: $52

September 14, 2017

Me and My Sister Tell Each Other Everything

As a sister and a person with a mental illness I can speak to the truth of this production. Or at least my truth. When I saw the trigger warning I wanted to run away, when they mentioned it again at the start of the show I wanted to leave. But I didn't. And I'm glad I didn't.

Freya and Maria were great. They were honest. It felt like they were sisters or they were improvising the script as they went - but in a good way. I thought about my sister, who I hate sometimes and love others...though now I think about it, maybe I've grown out of hating her now.

This isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea but it deals with important topics and fosters important conversations. It's political too - there's a tea towel that states there's no depression in New Zealand, like so many things it's never mentioned but it's there, and at the end the actors reminded us to vote.

There's singing, not what you'd expect from this sort of thing, it's funny and beautiful.  Overall, I laughed more than I cried. I left uplifted, secure. And I know that no matter what, my sister loves me.

Please note: This work contains extended and detailed discussion and portrayal of suicide including techniques and ideation. It also contains coarse language.

Performances14-23 September, 8pm
Tickets: $22